Chelsea did not offer an extension once it became clear that he wanted to move to a club where he would be the undisputed No1 following a season deputising Thibaut Courtois.

Nevertheless, owner Roman Abramovich has given his blessing for Cech to be handed a pay-off both for severing his ties with the club a year early and for being such a central figure in the most successful spell in the club’s history.

This comes after Abramovich over-ruled manager Jose Mourinho and gave his blessing for the Czech international to move to rival club Arsenal.